His Holiness the Dalai Lama concludes teachings in Sankisa, UP

His Holiness the Dalai Lama reading from ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’ on the final day of his teaching in Sankisa, UP, India on December 5, 2018. Photo/Lobsang Tsering/OHHDL

Sankisa: His Holiness the Dalai Lama concluded three days teaching on Shantideva’s ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’ in Sankisa, Uttar Pradesh.

Bodhisattvacharyavatara (Skt. Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra Tib. བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་དཔའི་སྤྱོད་པ་ལ་འཇུག་པ་ Eng. Introduction to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life) is included among the “Thirteen Great Texts”, which form the core of the curriculum in most Tibetan Buddhist learning centres.

His Holiness has said it on many occasions that If one has any understanding of compassion and the bodhisattva path, it all comes from studying this text.

“Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’, the most excellent explanation of how to develop the awakening mind that values the welfare of others more highly than your own,” he told the devotees at the Sankisa ground. “Carry this book with you. It can be your teacher too. Read it again and again until it looks worn out.”

“At this time when we have the opportunity of a human life and have met with the teachings of the Buddha, we can be of service to others. The Buddha was of service to multitudes of beings. Having the opportunity, but not taking advantage of it, is to undervalue the life we have.”

Highlighting the most important chapter of the text i.e. the Patience Chapter, His Holiness said patience counters anger, one of the most destructive of the disturbing emotions. “However, one can only cultivate it if someone provokes you. We consider those who do us harm to be enemies when we should regard them with gratitude and affection.”

He remembered Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu as examples of people whose dedication to others rather than self-made them popular.

“The counterforce for willpower and delivering efforts are laziness, distraction and low morale. I urge all of you not to give into low morale.”

After several photo sessions, His Holiness left for Farrukhabad airport from where he flew to Delhi.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is presented with a portrait by a local artist on the final day of his teaching in Sankisa, UP, India on December 6, 2018. Photo/Lobsang Tsering/OHHDL

His Holiness the Dalai Lama presenting certificates of appreciation to the organizers of his three days teaching in Sankisa, UP, India on December 5, 2018. Photo/Lobsang Tsering/OHHDL

UP Police Guard of Honour seeing off His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Farrukhabad airport from where he flew to Delhi, 5 December 2018. Photo/Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL